In its current incarnation, the car only switches to fully automated mode once it reaches the less frenetic confines of a highway and passes a sensor.

Last week, high-end electric vehicle maker Tesla said it was taking a major step toward self-driving cars by installing new autopilot software in vehicles so they can automatically change lanes, manage speed and even hit the brakes.

The car can also scan for available parking spaces, alert drivers when one is spotted and then parallel park on command.

GM - which is developing fuel-cell systems with Honda - is looking to commercialise self-driving cars by 2017.

Honda and GM are considering expanding the scope of cooperation in research and development to include self-driving technologies and other areas, a Honda spokesman said Wednesday.